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Australia has announced its 15-player squad for the 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be held in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2. This squad showcases a blend of young talent, with several players making a return to the international stage and some making their debut appearance.

Among the notable selections is 15-year-old Caoimhe Bray, who is set to make her World Cup debut. Bray caught the selectors’ attention with an outstanding performance in a tri-series held last September in Brisbane, where she scored 84 runs and took four wickets for 20 runs against New Zealand.

Five players from the previous squad, namely Chloe Ainsworth, Maggie Clark, Lucy Hamilton, Eleanor Larosa, and Kate Pelle, have been included for the second time in an ICC U19 T20 World Cup tournament. Particularly noteworthy is Maggie Clark, who emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 tournament in South Africa, claiming 12 wickets.

Tegan Williamson, aged 16, is also part of the squad. With her inclusion, she not only strengthens the team for the current tournament but also remains eligible for future competitions, including the 2027 World Cup.

The squad is made up of players who have substantial experience in domestic cricket competitions. Fourteen out of the fifteen players have participated in tournaments such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), and the T20 Spring Challenge.

Australia is positioned in Group D for the tournament, alongside Bangladesh, Scotland, and Nepal. The group stage matches will commence on January 18 at the UKM YSD Oval.

Kristen Beams, Cricket Australia’s National Development Lead, will coach the team. The selection process focused on performances in numerous competitions including the T20 Spring Challenge, WNCL, Weber WBBL, and an International U19 series, as well as the National Championships.

Sonya Thompson expressed enthusiasm about the squad, highlighting the team’s potential and the opportunities for further development as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

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